The day has finally arrived. After 20 long years, Ben Barnes has released his own music. His EP Songs For You just dropped and it was worth the wait. Ben has done something amazing with his first musical release and it’s an incredible introduction into who he is as an artist. He already knows how to pull emotion from us with his acting and now he’s doing that through his songs.
We know Ben Barnes is a very talented actor (see The Punisher/Shadow and Bone). He always brings a certain level of vulnerability to the characters he portrays but with his album, it’s a true reveal of himself. Ben has always been a very private person so hearing the lyrics to songs he has written gives us a glimpse of who he is and the thoughts that run through his mind. If you ever wanted to know more about Ben listening to Songs For You is the way to do that.
Songs For You which was produced by John Alagia and Jesse Siebenberg is a multifaceted EP. With a total of five tracks, each is more different than the last. There’s the upbeat ‘11:11’ which he released first last month with a music video attached. Then there is the very melancholy ‘Rise Up’ which was just released with a beautiful music video directed by his friend and actress Georgia King.
What makes Songs For You so unique is it’s a nice throwback to the soulful music of the past. Ben has always said he’s been influenced by a lot of soul singers like Donny Hathaway who was the inspiration behind the title of his album. One of his favorite records is ‘A Song For You’ by Leon Russell but, he loves the version done by Donny Hathaway. Each song was done on Ben’s piano at home and just as he wanted them, unedited and straight from the heart. If you have been watching him perform cover songs for the last year or so, that is authentically Ben. That only adds to the vulnerability he’s shown with this EP.
Ben has described Songs For You as an album he wants to speak intimately to anyone who listens to it. As listeners, we all interpret songs in our own way and that’s what he wants us to do. For Ben naturally he knows the meaning behind every single lyric he has written, and it feels almost like listening to him read us a book of poems. You can’t get anymore poetic than “Let the sea catch fire, see the red rocks crack. Let the dark expire, no shade at my back.” In fact, he has said that most of his song lyrics came from poetry he wrote for loved ones or himself. ‘Pirate Song’ is inspired by a story he read about a female pirate. We don’t know about you, but we are curious about that story now.
Releasing Songs For You has been a cathartic experience for Ben and it’s obvious how much joy it has brought him. We’re glad he finally did this because we always knew he was more than a talented actor. Songs For You doesn’t just feel like it’s a release for him though. It truly feels like a gift to his fans as well.
We couldn’t end this album review without ranking the songs so here we go.
1. “Rise Up”
Why We Love It: A powerful and poetic song that showcases Ben’s vocal range in such an amazing way. Absolutely emotional and it made us cry.
Lyrics That Hit Us:
Share your light, teach me to see
Caress my soul with your eyes
Warm the world but have some faith in me
And I should burn beneath you all my days
2. “Pirate Song”
Why We Love It: Gives off vibes that are reminiscent of artists like Stevie Wonder and of course Donny Hathaway. It’s a funky track that reminds me of Saturday night parties with family. That “Heave Ho! Blow me down,” is going to be stuck in our heads for a while.
Lyrics That Hit Us:
She navigates away
You know you’ll pursue
Call her back from the other side
And pray she’ll break through
3. ’11:11′
Why We Love It: This song is upbeat and gives us happy feelings that have us shouting the lyrics at the top of our lungs.
Lyrics That Hit Us:
I wish for you to be happy
I wish for you to be free
I wish for you to be fearless
That’s wishes 1, 2, and 3
And I won’t wish to be yours or for you to be mine
But I’ll wish them all for you every time
4. “Ordinary Day”
Why We Love It: A heartbreaking track that has a musical like quality. This song feels like it needs to be in a movie. Someone needs to make that happen.
Lyrics That Hit Us:
Hold on for an ordinary day
Choose him and then choose what to say
Tell me I’m enough
5.“Not The End”
Why We Love It: A song that reminds us it’s okay to not be okay and that this too shall pass.
Lyrics That Hit Us:
I won’t tell you live, laugh, love
If it’s not okay, it’s not yet the end
Songs For You is available now on all digital platforms. You can also order CDs and merchandise from Bens shop by going here. ’11:11’ will be featured on the upcoming NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 80 as part of the “NOW Presents What’s Next” new music preview bonus tracks. It will be available on October 29th. You can preorder the digital version here.
What do you think of Ben’s new EP? Which songs are your favorite? Tell us in the comments.
